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Reading secured a dominant 5-0 victory over Peterborough in the first round of the FA Cup, highlighting a weekend of dramatic ties across the competition. Non-league Kidderminster Harriers and League Two side Exeter City also produced notable results by eliminating teams from higher divisions.
Reading Dominates Peterborough
Reading delivered a decisive performance at the Weston Homes Stadium, eliminating Peterborough with five unanswered goals. Daniel Kyerewaa opened the scoring in the 26th minute with a deflected strike after receiving a pass from Andy Rinomhota. Jack Marriott expanded the lead eight minutes later, turning in Haydon Roberts’ cross with a diving header.
Charlie Savage added a third goal during first-half stoppage time, sending a deflected effort into the top corner against the team managed by his father, Robbie Savage. In the second half, Paudie O’Connor headed Savage’s free-kick into the path of Jamie Reid, who lifted the ball over goalkeeper Alex Bass in the 72nd minute. Reid added his second goal four minutes later following a pass from Liam Fraser to complete the 5-0 victory.
Non-League Kidderminster Stuns Doncaster
National League club Kidderminster Harriers earned a 3-0 home win against League One outfit Doncaster Rovers. Lewis Walker gave the hosts an early advantage in the 22nd minute, scoring on a rebound after his initial shot hit the post following a setup by Maz Kouhyar. Kouhyar doubled the lead in the 36th minute after receiving a pass from Walker at the end of a fast transition.
Kidderminster secured their third goal shortly after Doncaster had a penalty appeal turned down for a fall by Alfie May inside the box. Kouhyar forced a save from goalkeeper Josh Clarke, allowing David Davis to turn in the rebound. Kidderminster manager Paul Wotton said: “We started well, scored the goal and got the crowd up. It was just a really good day. They are a League One team at the end of the day, no matter what the scoreline suggests. They are two leagues higher than us, so they are going to have moments in the game, but we stood up to it.” Wotton added that the squad finally got their rewards after playing well in recent weeks.
Exeter and Blackpool Progress
League Two side Exeter City knocked out League One leaders Huddersfield Town with a 2-1 victory away from home. Jack Taylor put Exeter ahead in the 12th minute, converting a left-wing delivery from Luca Woodhouse. Huddersfield equalized eight minutes after the restart through an Ibane Bowat header from Cameron Humphreys’ corner, but Charlie Cummins scored the winning goal nine minutes from time off a cutback from Reece Cole.
Blackpool avoided an upset against non-league Hornchurch, coming from behind to win 2-1 in extra time. Hornchurch took the lead in the first half when Henry Hearn finished a cross from Ángelo Balanta. Substitute Josh Bowler altered the course of the match, setting up Jordan Brown’s 55th-minute volley to equalize. Hornchurch were later reduced to 10 men when Henry Sandat was sent off for pulling back Bowler, before Tom Bloxham laid the ball off for Bowler to curl in the 118th-minute winner.
Summary of First-Round Matches
Notts County defeated Altrincham 3-2 on penalties following a 2-2 draw. Goals from Lucas Weaver and Lewis Banks had put Altrincham ahead after Jacob Bedeau’s opener, but Callum Roberts forced extra time with an 84th-minute equalizer. Altrincham missed three spot-kicks in the shootout as County advanced.
Rochdale eliminated Fleetwood Town 2-1 in extra time through a goal from Baba Adeeko. Mansfield Town defeated Macclesfield 3-0 with strikes from Nathan Moriah-Welsh, Rhys Oates, and Jordan Bowery. Mansfield manager Nigel Clough noted his side recovered after a sloppy start, stating it was a relief to see the second goal go in.
Plymouth Argyle defeated Alvechurch 4-0 behind two goals from Will Evans alongside strikes from Michael Baidoo and Ronan Curtis. Barnsley earned a 7-2 victory over Aldershot with Cameron McGeehan scoring a hat-trick. Bradford City beat Marine 7-0 with two goals each from Nick Powell and Adam Phillips, while Leyton Orient advanced 5-1 against Harborough.
York City beat Northampton Town 4-0, featuring an opening goal from captain Ollie Pearce just 10 seconds into the match. Seventh-tier Guiseley earned a 1-0 victory over Sutton United through a stoppage-time penalty from Jordan Thewlis, while Salisbury defeated Sholing 6-0 to reach the second round for the first time since their 2015 reformation.
